Insights into therapeutic potential and practical applications of natural toxins from poisonous mushrooms
Human & Experimental Toxicology March 11, 2025 Tharuka Wijesekara, Baojun Xu 5 citations
Toxic mushrooms, though a small fraction of the roughly 14,000 known species, contain bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. A systematic review examined key toxins such as amanitins, phallotoxins, ibotenic acid, muscimol, orellanine, and gyromitrin, along with their biosynthesis and health effects. Despite their toxicity, compounds including beta-glucans, polysaccharides, lectins, and psilocybin show immune-modulating, anticancer, and neuroprotective properties. These substances may target cancer stem cells and enhance neurotransmitter activity, offering novel avenues for drug discovery that bridge toxicology and pharmacology.